Behavioural responses

The chemicals that impact your body (the adrenaline and cortisol), preparing you to physically deal with the threat tend to trigger one of four behavioural response: 

• Fight (most athletes don’t actually fight – they just get super chatty)
• Flight (these athletes will avoid every possible opportunity to be tested so may quit sports once they get good at them)
• Freeze (these people will go very quiet and want to be left alone)
• Fawn (these people will often have been treated badly in the past so try to people please or placate others in order to stay safe).

Additionally, you’ll often see an athlete’s body shape change; they get smaller as if they are trying to take up less space and not be noticed. In some sports Like Rugby or Gymnastics this can have a negative impact on their movement patterns and performance.